‘Credit to the FA’ – Prutton delivers verdict on ‘inexplicable’ Leeds star Casilla after ban
David Prutton has praised the FA for how they responded to the allegation of racial abuse from Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to Jonathan Leko.
Last week it was confirmed that Casilla, 33, had been found guilty of the charges relating to the incident on September 28 and as a result he was hit with an eight-match ban and fined £60,000.
Illan Meslier stepped in to play in goals on Saturday as Leeds started their run of eight games without Casilla and the French teenager kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 win away at Hull.
Prutton has admitted that plenty of supporters wanted Casilla dropped from the side not too long ago due to his error-prone form and has also backed the FA for punishing the former Real Madrid ‘keeper.
“There’s been many a Leeds fan that I’ve spoken to who’s been crying out for a change of goalkeeper and it’s forced Marcelo Bielsa’s hand,” Prutton said on Sky Sports’ EFL podcast.
“It’s been addressed by the FA and the sanction has got to be something that sends out a message. There’s been a lot of discussions in recent seasons about what comes from the stands but if that’s been deemed to have been perpetrated on the field then that’s got to be taken care of so credit to the FA for doing that.
“On the pitch, he’s capable of moments of real quality. He’s capable of moments of inexplicable mishaps, none more so than in the play-off semi-final [against Derby] last season.
“There have been several errors that have led to Leeds conceding goals or losing games and it’s the loneliest position in a football team.”
Casilla’s been at Elland Road for just over a year now and a lot has happened in that time.
He initially brought in some stability to the goalkeeping position as Bailey Peacock-Farrell hadn’t been impressed in the Championship but the Spaniard’s debut season at Leeds will always been remembered for his shocker against Derby in the play-offs.
And then you have this season where he has made some really good saves, stood firm in the league’s best defence but also been responsible for some absolute howlers – most recently in the 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Casilla’s now been hit with a lengthy ban that almost ends his season, adding yet another talking point about the 33-year-old’s time in Yorkshire.
Once Casilla’s days at Elland Road are over, he’s not going to be someone who’s going to be forgotten about any time soon.
In other Leeds United news, Hull fans are furious about what happened with Leeds supporters at the KCOM on Saturday.